Soop's warmly welcoming kitchen

I can recommend a bench for little people at the dining table. We bought one years ago when the DGC were all small and put it in the hall for them to sit on for their outdoor shoes to be put on when they were leaving/going outside. It is still in our hall and big people use it to sit on and put their shoes on too nowadays!

It is ideal for the dining table when all the family are here too and means we can get 10 round the table.

Galen give while the hand is open.. Enjoy the wee monkeys.

They might even get a taste for Gaggas tea with fevwersoda, contains quinine to ward off any ailments

Soop I will have to put mine on hold until after the weekend as we have GS here now until Tuesday and any hope of concentration will be well and truly out of the window! He was dropped off two hours late by his parents who then discovered that they had left a vital piece of luggage behind and had to go back home to get it before continuing their journey to Cornwall. It’s a long way and they both look tired already! I shall look forward to seeing your rabbits!

Greyduster I'm working on a watercolour of rabbits. Wet on wet (to begin with) and so far, so good.

N&G Please may I squish in beside your grandchildren (for the Easter banquet). I promise to be on my best behaviour. Thanks for the word, Maw...I like squish

Charleyg Our shower has packed up. I do believe that certain gadgets have built-in obsolescence. Is that the correct spelling?

Galen You are a lovely Graggy. Just the four bottles of Smirnoff! Are you sure that's sufficient to see you through the weekend?

Agus It's another beautiful day here in Kintyre. There is a mountain of jobs waiting to be tackled in our garden. I truly wish that I could cope with a decent session (of gardening) and not need the kiss of life to recover. Should Greyduster discover a willing young man (prepared to assist in the horticulture department) I shall share him.

We are considering a bench too Maw . Our littlies have a particular other littlie they like to sit next too , so squishing them all on a bench is perfect.

I shall take a picture Charlie if it all crashes to the ground !!

Then I might cry :-)

That is a good idea N&G and with luck the serving dishes will not end up a heap on the floor- Sam would think that Christmas had come early.

The heavens opened yesterday the entire time that the workmen were here and the sun appeared after they had left. I would like them finished with my paving today although they have a lot more to do with my neighbour's paving two doors down.

Today is sunny but rain is forecast. It is certainly not the warmest day of the year.

My washing machine broke down yesterday and so much for the come today or tomorrow repair because the first slot is next Wednesday. Heaven knows how many machine washes I will have to do because to me a week waiting is a lifetime. The machine is only 2 years old.

Well done Grampy for a cunning plan. That is what SIL is doing for me as we can also (just, elbows in) fit 10 but now that tinies no longer use high chairs I was tempted to get a bigger table. Fortunately DD dissuaded me as it would look pretty silly in my kitchen when I am eating at it on my lonesome.
Plus I like my oval table and chairs!
I am tempted to get a bench however for occasional use as the children can squish up and part of the problem has been getting all the chairs round the table.
Anyway, well done that man!

Morning all !

Welcome back sunshine !! Though I suspect it will be fleeting.

Grampy has been busy solving our seating problem. We downsized our table , but can squish 10 round it if we have to but there is no room for any serving dishes etc on the table. So he purchased a huge sheet of wood ( maybe too big because we couldn't lift it !!). He has sawn it in half, but hinges on the two bits so they can be secured together and nifty little wood things under neath , so you lay it on the table and click these wood things in place and its secured. Now we have a massive table , where everything can go on the table and we can still eat there !

The test will be Easter Sunday !!

I do like to have enough left for a cold meat sandwich Ann so I would have been as disappointed as you .

Today is a day for getting the house to rights before my first guests arrive tomorrow . I hate housework but it has to be done ( as quickly as possible !!) , so if any of you are a whizz with a duster ...pop in..... I shall be attempting to make the first part of my very elaborate ( first time ever) Easter cake.... who wants to lick the bowl ????

I’ve darling daughter and sil plus dgcs for the weekend. I’ve just finished the ocado order. What with the raspberries, oatly milk, apples, fresh eggs, etc, the bill comes to £150 ( that does include 4x bottles of Smirnoff which are on special offer, and are essential for Graggy’s sanity ) and apparently they want take out Dominos pizza which I gather are not cheap.
But, you can’t help but love them!

N&G make that a sunny glass enclosed space

annsixty I bought a whole leg of lamb for dinner a couple of weeks ago - it was £24 and fed 8 of us - none left for Monday!
However, Tesco had some at half-price this week, hoping one will feed the same number.
Don't try to do too much without help, ann - although I realise how frustrating it must be when helpers are not on time. I think they just can't get done what they need to do in the time allocated to each client.

N&G yes - it can happen so easily. We had been trying to eat our way through the freezer and cupboards before visitors arrived, then ended up spending over £200 - then again another £60 and now today in M&S for a top-up of (on offer) and a few bits and bobs.

We had a hailstorm late afternoon, it was very heavy and then the skies cleared again - it's a lovely evening.

We have had wall to wall sunshine across the country from you soop. 3 days working in the garden has left me jiggered . That getting older bit which means we can’t soldier on and do what needs done is a bloody nuisance.

Perfect timing for your orangery N&G. Even should it be perishingly cold outside, to sit in a glass enclosed space is so uplifting. I adore lamb, frolicking or served with mint! DD2 had a pet lamb a few years ago now whom she named April and trained to walk beside on a collar and leash, DH however insisted on calling her Korma. Poor thing ate too much frosty spring grass and literally blew up!

Grey I envy you having any artistic talent. I am no art critic and completely useless at any art medium apart from colouring in but, whatever you do keep at it if its something you enjoy.

We also had the quick burst of hail anno but fortunately, by the time I realised what was going on, it stopped, which meant I could just about go on a wee bit longer with my toiling.

Hope all those who are having difficulties to deal with manage to find something to brighten their day a bit. Life has a nasty habit of throwing problems at us but somehow we work hard at dusting ourselves down and manage to cope.

Sitting in a friend's conservatory, eating cake after a good lunch, we were almost deafened by a sudden fierce hail shower on the roof! Fortunately it lasted just seconds, but seemed to come out of a clear blue sky. It has got colder this afternoon. My trusty (?) thermometer says it's +5 at the moment; the forecasters threaten that it will be a cold Easter. I have a list of films to watch on Netflix and Prime.

N&G I feel your pain.
Last weekend I bought a leg of lamb from M&S for our meal which we were having Saturday evening instead of Sunday lunch.
It was just over £18, I had told my eldest GD who often eats with us on Sunday that it would be cold lamb for dinner. We were 6 adults on Saturday and hardly enough left to make a sandwich for one. I had to cook a chicken on Sunday.
Sorry some of you have had a wet day, it has not been bad here, just a couple of very brief showers.

Lambs are safe with me, not something that is cooked here so send any needing sanctuary this way.

I am feeling smugly virtuous, all admin accomplished with the cleaning accomplished while I was muttering away over the computer. We then went out for a very nice afternoon tea as a reward. Result all round and a very happy corner

I can understand the impulse to sack the carers ann but perhaps best keep them on a 'just in case' basis. As soop says you deserve help and somehow it must happen.

We have a drainer in our family too. Not not for dishes, the conversation type. In fact we have two, one a real family member the other sort of adopted. We look at the phone and cower in our seats when the numbers appear. In fact one has their very own ring tone, the sound of which has me heading for the bathroom on urgent business . Seriously they are very hard work but perhaps don't realise it, in our case both mean very well so are usually forgiven once energy has returned.

Blimey N&G thats a house full with a vengeance. The orangery will get a good test as will the cook by the sound of it. I do know what you mean, even a family tea can strain the budget but we wouldn't not do it, would we? I'm trying to get ours in one place for a tea in the next couple of months but so far no firm date. How did their lives get to be so complicated?

Our garden is tiny and now its sorted provides little room for creativity. At the moment I'm eying the shrubs and almost hoping one hasn't survived the winter to give me an excuse to go looking for another. I will have pots and tubs to play with soon though, so that will keep me happy.

Right, feet up time has come early today. Take care everyone, wishing you all a peaceful evening.

I have just returned from taking my friends to “Finding Your Feet”.
A lovely film, laughter and tears but ultimately a really “feel good” film.
Looking round the little cinema afterwards I don’t think anybody was under 60 and many considerably over!
And now it has stoped raining and the sun is out.
What’s not to like?

Soop if you find a strong willing young man, please send him my way (and if he’s any good at gardening that will be useful too!! ). I have to tell you I have started putting paint on my sketch and it is not going well. We had some sun on the conservatory this afternoon, so I set to with a will and then ground to a halt. Too much brickwork and fiddly bits.

Ooh, N&G you wouldn’t ?! But if you do just happen to, I am partial to a cutlet or two!

Wall to wall sunshine. Garden could do with a strong-armed and willing young man well-versed in the art of heavy duty garden maintenance. Not so long ago, I could put in a good few hours. Wouldn't leave things be until MacSporran called that it was time to come indoors. Those days are gone. It's one sad fact of my personal ageing process.

N&G Oh, I have a passion for crème eggs. When I managed a wee gift shop in Cornwall, the centre table at Easter was decorated accordingly. This would include a beautiful wicker basket of crème eggs. I resisted eating one for the first few days. From thereon, every day I treated myself to one with my afternoon brew. Naturally, that meant that I was duty-bound to buy a replacement. It cost me dear!

Darling lamb. I love to watch a wee gang of them climb onto a hillock and jump off with gay abandon.

I began a watercolour of two harvest mice on a stalk of barley. Two hours have evaporated into the ether. The result is nothing short of shocking. Off the board it goes. Could do better. As the nun used to add to the bottom of my school report.

Afternoon all !

I had the worst nights sleep ever last night so was feeling sorry enough for myself to pop back into bed at 1pm ! I now feel marginally better !! I am an 8 hr+ a night girl and feel distinctly put out if I don't get it !!

Your friend sounds in good form soop , enjoy the well deserved chocs !!

Corner you would be very welcome . Grampy is a willing slave helper but neither of us know anything at all about gardens.

Sorry to hear of your daughters negativity morethan , I totally understand how draining it can be. I have come to the conclusion that 'glass half empty' people are hard work for us 'glass half full ' people. They don't even know how miserable they can make you xx

How bloody infuriating Ann !!!! I have no experience I'm afraid of carers but I'm angry on your behalf. How can that be a good time to arrive ?

We did some supermarket shopping this morning ( even though I was in a fog....after all how else could a Cadburys crème egg have found its way into my trolley? ). How expensive are visitors???????

There will be 10 of us for Sunday lunch , Sunday tea and Monday breakfast, and 4 of us for dinner Friday night and breakfast Saturday morning. WITHOUT the joint - I've spent almost £200 in Morrison's !!! How the heck is that possible???? It's blown my food budget for the month that's for sure so I hope there are leftovers !

But on a brighter note....lamb anyone ? ;-)

annsixtyIs that wise? You deserve assistance. Please, for your sake, reconsider.

Ironing duty completed, Home to a welcome pot of coffee and a Thornton's chocolate.

After a spot of R&R I shall return and hopefully catch up with you lovely lot.

Once again the carers were not here at 11:45, I rang the office to be told they should have been here at 11:35, no I said they should be here at 11. I have told them not to bother, I will cope .